Therapy Dog experience anyone? (shih tzu, kids, noise, testing)

[atina33]

I'm looking into having my mom's dog serve as a therapy dog (with my mom). He's a very very very calm Shih Tzu and I know he'd be perfect for the job. What sorts of hoops must one typically jump through in order to have a dog qualify as a therapy dog? My mom would particularly like to visit the elderly in rest homes.

Thanks in advance!

[ReturningWest]

There are two groups that are well known for their therapy dogs and you can read about how to get the dog certified on their web sites:

Delta
Delta Society - Our Vision, Mission & Goals

Therapy Dog International
Therapy Dogs International

I have a friend who's dog is a TDI and does work at the library with kids reading to her dogs.

It will also depend on whats near you as to what will work for your mom's dog.

[Amazonchix]

We have two of our 3 dogs TDI certified. We visit a dementia residential facility weekly. Our dogs LOVE visiting their people and those folks LOVE my dogs. It never fails to make my heart happy. The facility we visit wasn't on the list of facilities looking for therapy dogs, but we contacted them specifically and they eagerly took us. Most facilities are desperate need of certified pet therapy dogs to volunteer.

[foxywench]

i definatly reccomend looking into both tdi and delta above, even if they dont have facilities in your area they are often MORE than happy to point you in the right direction.

generally the dog must have good obedience, (they MUST pass the CGC)
well socilized and not skittish around wheelchiars, medical equiptment walkers ect
they must also be social with people and other dogs) theres typically a secondary "acess test" that dogs must pass prior to certification that will test them around other dogs, strange noises, ODD sights ect...

[Amazonchix]

I know in the instance of TDI, whom we are certified by, if you contact them directly they will provide you with the contact information of TDI examiners in your specific area. You will need to contact those examiners to ask about obedience courses, CGC courses and testing dates for upcoming TDI tests.